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Hardiness: USDA Zone 2b: to -42.7 °C (-45 °F) USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
Propagation Methods: From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
On Jun 1, 2007, SummerLion from Two Rivers, AK (Zone 1) wrote:
I'm interested to see that this plant is considered invasive in Alaska. When we bought this house in 1999, the previous owners had just planted a long line of them along the drive. They were approximately 2 ft. tall then, and they're about 8 ft. tall now.
They are self-sowing: The seed pods burst and fling the seed as far as several feet away, and we now have new plants across the driveway and in the yard.
They're also thorny, which makes pruning no fun.
They are good as screens and windbreaks, and the birds really seem to like them as cover, but because of the overabundance of upstarts (and now this notice that it's a nuisance plant), I wouldn't recommend it.
On Oct 3, 2006, darylmitchell from Saskatoon, SK (Zone 3a) wrote:
Caraganas are extremely hardy; they are tolerant of drought and extreme cold. They prefer full sull but can tolerate some shade, and also can tolerate some saline conditions. Caraganas need well drained soil and cannot withstand repeated flooding. They have been planted extensively in rural shelterbelts on the Canadian prairies.
This plant is considered invasive in many areas, especially northern regions, as it escapes cultivation and has the potential to widely spread in previously pristine natural areas. I work for the Forest Service in Alaska as an Ecologist in our Seward office, and this plant is being included in an upcoming multi-agency invasive plants book for Alaska, with the recommendation that it not be purchased, planted, traded, or grown.
On Aug 18, 2004, BingsBell from SC, MT (Zone 5a) wrote:
A good shrub for hiding fences, I use mine in rows to help with wind barriers along with evergreens. Once established, they don't require much including water. They seem to be pest resistant.